We’re All Winners!!! An Educational Fitness & Empowering Activity for Children Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, CWS Overview - We’re All Winners           Idea for We’re All Winners What is We’re All Winners? Purpose of We’re All Winners Focus of We’re All Winners Goals of We’re All Winners Basics Included in We’re All Winners Experiencing the Elation of Winning Parents My Child is a Winner Celebrating We’re All Winners! Planning Your Own We’re All Winners Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Idea for We’re All Winners  The idea to develop a fun running activity for children came after we participate in a running event as a family.  My daughters asked when they could do a run themselves.  I set out to create a fun running event that would also be educational. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. What is We’re All Winners? "We're All Winners" was developed as an educational activity to let young children  Enjoy and have fun being physically active  Participate in a non-racing, solo running activity  Experience the elation of winning Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Purpose of We’re All Winners The purpose of "Winners" was to educate children, parents and teachers about:  Benefits of being physical active  Good nutrition and healthy eating habits  Outdoor Sun Safety Tips Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Focus of We’re All Winners  On Winner’s Day children participate in a variety of activities that Promote being physically active  Build their self-esteem  Improve learning skills  Encourage good sportsmanship & patience  Model healthy eating  Teach sun safety  Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Goals of We’re All Winners  The main goal of the event is to create an environment in which each child gets to feel special, like a winner.  Each child goes home feeling and believing for at least one day that "I'm a Winner!"  This is the message that we want children to internalize & believe about themselves. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Basics of We’re All Winners The following ideas were included in the activity.  Each child gets to run the activity course solo--by him or herself.  Each child starts at the starting line with a "ReadySet-Go" and a whistle blow, like a race.  Each child gets to cross the finish line and break the finish line ribbon alone.  Each child is presented with a #1 Winner medal by the teacher as part of the Winners ceremony.  Each child is presented with a Winner bag filled with healthy prizes and nutritious fruit and/or nuts. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Experiencing the Elation of Winning   We planned the non-race fitness and fun day event so that each child has the chance to experience the joy of participation, the elation of running just for the fun of it and the excitement of feeling like a winner. Each child gets to run a designated course by themselves and break the ribbon at the finish line to experience "winning" without any competition. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. We’re All Winners  For at least one day, each child gets to enjoy being active, participate in a group event and end the day feeling like a winner. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. For Parents – My Child is a Winner  Above all else, We're All Winners was created as an event to build self-esteem.  Parents enjoy watching their children enthusiastically run the course.  Many are amazed at the number of times their 'not active' child will come back and run around the course...again and again.  All are glad for the chance to see that My Child is a Winner. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Celebrating - We’re All Winners One of My Winners crossing the finish line. Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works. Planning Your We’re All Winners The We’re All Winners page online, http://www.squidoo.com/wereallwinners has additional information to plan your own We’re All Winner’s event.  Sections include:  We're All Winners - The Basics  We're All Winners - PrePlanning  We're All Winners - The Course  We're All Winners - Winner's Bags  Kirsti A. Dyer. 2008. Creative Commons Copyright. Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.